The History of Heroin Use

One of the most illegal and dangerous drugs on the streets today is heroin. Most people have heard of this drug, but do they know that it’s actually thousands of years old? The history of heroin is extensive and quite complicated.

Let’s take a look at the history of heroin and how it has become one of the most addictive drugs in the United States and around the world today. Let’s also look at what heroin does to the body and how you can get help if you’ve been struggling with a heroin addiction.

The History of Heroin

Heroin, an opium-based drug derived from opium poppy plants has a long history of use and abuse. The history of heroin goes back thousands of years. It was first widely smoked and chewed as a stimulant in Asia as well as in Mexico and Latin America.

In the Western world, heroin first showed up in 1898 when extracted and synthesized from the natural poppy plant into a drug. This process was first initiated by the Bayer drug company of Germany. This is the same Bayer company that offers non-narcotic pain relievers today. The history of heroin includes its use in various elixirs and tonics. The remedies these elixirs and tonics claimed to provide ran the gamut. The major claim to fame was relief from severe pain.

Heroin did indeed help those with pain. However, soon heroin showed its euphoric and addictive effects. Numerous people fell victim to heroin addiction after World War II, and the same sort of epidemic happened after the Vietnam War. Since this time, heroin is now known as one of the most deadly addictive drugs in the United States.

What Heroin Does to the Body

There are numerous detrimental effects to using heroin. In particular, heroin has terrible effects on the body’s vital organs–the kidneys, intestines, and brain. For example, some brain damage can occur almost immediately after use and serious damage occurs from non-fatal overdoses. Certain studies have even shown that this brain damage can cause the symptoms of early onset Alzheimer’s Disease.

Heroin also causes high protein levels in the kidneys, which is associated with kidney disease later in life. The intestines, too, will be negatively affected by heroin abuse. As with all opiates, the use of heroin reduces the action of intestinal muscles, which lessens their ability to pass waste. In turn, this can cause chronic constipation, which does result in fissures and hemorrhoids.

How to Get Help for Heroin Addiction

You can start fighting an addiction to heroin, but you can’t do it on your own. Only professional drug treatment at a qualified and accredited facility can actually help you fully recover from a heroin addiction. Beaches Recovery offers numerous programs for those who are struggling with this form of substance abuse. These include the following: